Ali on the Run Show

753. Betsy Saina, 2:19 Marathoner & 2024 USATF 25K Champion

Tue, 08 Oct 2024

"Sometimes a short build up can do a miracle. So I’m hoping for the miracle in Chicago!"

In a stacked field of elite runners, Betsy Saina is absolutely one to watch at this weekend's Chicago Marathon. Betsy is a 2:19 marathoner — a time that makes her the third-fastest American woman marathoner (behind Emily Sisson and Keira D'Amato). She's a 2016 Olympian who competed in the 10,000m, and she's the 2024 USATF 25K Champion and women-only American record holder in that distance. She's a three-time NCAA champion who ran at Iowa State University, and she currently lives and trains primarily in Kenya. In this conversation, Betsy — who is a mom to three-year-old Kalya — talks about how she's feeling heading into the Chicago Marathon. She talks about the fall earlier this year that derailed her training and set her back several weeks, and about how she's come back from a DNF at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Plus, whether or not she's planning to go for an American Record in Chicago, what it's like training alongside Joyciline Kepkosgei, and more.

Running Chicago? Here's everything you need to know.

FOLLOW BETSY @sainabetsy

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What you’ll get on this episode:

How Betsy was feeling a few weeks before the Chicago Marathon, and what motherhood looks like lately (2:40)
What Betsy’s Chicago Marathon training has looked like, and all about the fall that derailed the first few weeks (6:25)
Is Betsy targeting the American record in Chicago? (10:50)
How Betsy feels about the taper (19:15)
On racing alongside training partner Joyciline Jepkosgei, and what Betsy thinks she can run in Chicago (21:30)
Betsy looks back on the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, and how she reflects on that day (26:20)
Why Betsy is running this year’s Chicago Marathon, after being shut out of the professional field in 2023 (30:15)
When and why Betsy started running (32:00)
Betsy, one week later (38:30)
What will make Chicago a success? (43:30)
Betsy’s advice for first-time marathoners, and for marathoners chasing big dreams (45:40)

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752. Logan Aldridge, Peloton Instructor & Marathoner

Thu, 03 Oct 2024

"I looked like a fainting goat at mile 20."

Logan Aldridge just might be the real-life human version of a golden retriever. But as charming and funny and lovable as he may be, Logan isn't afraid to kick your butt and make you sweat. Logan is a Peloton instructor who is best known for his adaptive classes.

When Logan was 13, he was wakeboarding with his family and the rope around his arm became entangled in the boat's propeller. It cut through all of Logan's arm muscles, down to the bone. His left arm — and he was a lefty at the time — had to be amputated.

Remarkably, Logan never let this keep him down. He relearned how to do everything with his right arm and hand, and went on to become "The Strongest One-Armed Man on Earth."

Most recently, Logan became a marathoner! He ran the 2023 Chicago Marathon, and is currently training for this year's New York City Marathon.

FOLLOW LOGAN @loganaldridge

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IN THIS EPISODE:

How Logan’s New York City Marathon training is going (2:45)
Why Logan wanted to run a marathon (6:20)
On finding community in the marathon (9:30)
How Logan learned how to run a marathon (11:30)
On having time goals for a first marathon, and how Logan’s first marathon — the 2023 Chicago Marathon — played out (16:00)
What Logan learned about himself in the process of becoming a marathoner (25:40)
Logan’s advice to this year’s Chicago Marathon runners (30:45)
How Logan is approaching his New York City Marathon training (38:20)
When Logan shifted from being obsessive about fitness goals to wanting to enjoy the process (43:45)
How Logan got his job at Peloton (47:30)
On being a daredevil — and what Logan hasn’t done (59:00)
What’s top of mind for Logan now, a month out from the New York City Marathon (1:02:45)

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751. Ask Ali LIVE at the 2024 Akron Marathon

Tue, 01 Oct 2024

Welcome to Ask Ali, LIVE at the 2024 Akron Marathon! I spent this past weekend in Akron, OH, as one of the start and finish line announcers at the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay, and got to do a live show at the race expo — with a twist. This time, I was the one being interviewed! Join Jasen Sokol and me (and some wonderful question-asking audience members) for this fun getting-to-know-you-better conversation covering running, cancer, motherhood, and so much more.

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750. Everything You Need to Know About the Chicago Marathon

Thu, 26 Sep 2024

"Remember the entire journey, because it’s very special."

It’s almost time for the 46th running of the Chicago Marathon! The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 13, and this episode is packed with all the information you need before you head to the start line. (And yes, you really should plan to get there two hours early. We’ll explain why!) The elite fields are stacked (Bates! D'Amato! Saina! Chepngetich! Hall! Rojas! Rooker! Frisbie!), and they’ll be followed by tens of thousands of runners en route to 26.2-mile glory. Get ready. Get psyched. And get that Goose Island at the finish!

Planning to tune in from home? Here’s how to watch.

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In this episode:

Chicago Marathon executive race director Carey Pinkowski talks about what to expect at this year’s race (5:00))
How to get in, how to watch, and how Chicago is committed to sustainability (31:00)
What to know about getting to the start and navigating the athlete village (37:00)
Chris "Coach Worm" Wehrman and Robyn LaLonde talk Chicago Marathon course strategy (48:00)
All about the finish line experience and tips for spectating (1:17:40)

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749. Lauren Peterson, Political Speechwriter & Author

Tue, 24 Sep 2024

"It felt like the riskiest choice I could make, but it changed the whole trajectory of my life and I feel so grateful."

Lauren Peterson's list of professional contacts is wildly impressive. As a political speechwriter and strategist, she has worked for and with President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and President Biden. She's the New York Times best-selling co-author of Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead, with former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, and is currently working on her next book, This Will All Be Worth It, about LGBTQ+ family building. In this conversation, Lauren shares her most memorable stories from the campaign trails and Air Force One, to her encounters and interviews with Barack, Michelle, and more. And, of course, Lauren is a runner and marathoner. She talks about running through the best of times, the worst of times, and the most stressful times. Lauren lives in New York City with her wife and their son, Remy.

FOLLOW LAUREN @lcollinsp

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In this episode:

How Lauren describes her job (5:30)
On “ego” in speechwriting (7:50)
How Lauren got into politics (10:30)
What it was like meeting — and working with — the Obamas (22:40)
What it was like flying on Air Force One (28:40)
How Lauren became a speechwriter (31:15)
The first time Lauren heard one of her speeches being delivered (38:00)
The speeches Lauren most loves to write (48:00)
Why Lauren started running (55:10)
How running changed Lauren’s relationship with food and her body (1:02:00)
Running around the time of the 2016 election (1:04:50)
Lauren’s decision to have a baby, and what that meant for running and her career (1:09:00)
What Lauren’s days look like right now (1:21:45)

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